Mark Measurements on Wood With the Best Scribing Tools

Scribing tools are pretty simple to use, but they’re one of the most useful items to have in your woodworking arsenal. This buying guide addresses what you need to know about scribing tools.

What Are Scribing Tools Used For?

When working with wood, rulers aren’t always enough. Sometimes, the best measurements are made directly from the source, and it can be redundant and prone to error if you try to copy measurements of something via a ruler. Instead of doing two measurements, you can use a tool to directly copy a shape onto a surface, and scribing tools are perfect for the job.

Scribing tools don’t have one singular purpose. Rather, they can be used in multiple ways and are versatile enough for various measurement techniques. Depending on how familiar you are with the tool, you can get entire measurements of various shapes with little effort.

Types of Scribing Tools

Compass scribing tool 

Often called a compass, the compass scribing tool has two legs — one leg contains a needle to use as a center point and the other leg has the pencil which marks at the adjusted offset. Compass scribing tools are simple in concept but a little difficult to work with if you’re still a beginner. Since you need to make the tool stand throughout the entire process, it takes more precision than a flat scribing tool for accurate results.

Flat scribing tool

Flat scribing tools are mostly flat in design with the exception of having a pencil stick out on the top. These tools are easier to use than their compass counterparts, as you don’t need to hold the tool in a specific way to get an accurate marking. They are particularly useful for drawing circles and curves around a given area.

Tips for Using a Scribing Tool

Keep your hands steady

Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to scribing tools. You’re in no rush when marking and making measurements, and hastening the process will only increase the chance of error. By keeping your hands steady, you ensure that the lines you draw and mark are consistent and without error.

Don’t hold down too hard

One issue that many novices have with scribing tools is that they hold down on the anchor point too hard. This is done with the idea that by holding the anchor point harder, you can get more reliable and stable lines. This is, however, not the case — by putting more force than necessary you may end up slipping and moving the tool if the force is not directly downwards. This can be disastrous depending on your project, which is why it’s best to hold the compass firmly but with control.

Scribing Tool Price Range

Virtually all scribing tools operate in the exact same way, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a price range. In fact, the price range of scribing tools is large, as you can spend quite a bit on these tools depending on your budget. 

A decent scribing tool will cost you around $5 or so, with some being even cheaper than that. To get your hands on a reliable one, however, expect to spend $15, with some of the more premium tools fetching a price of around $30. That’s a huge leap from the original $5, but the material quality and design of the tool may be well worth the added premium.